National Youth Council of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation National Youth Council of Ireland

Date published 20 Jan, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022

Specific Details Funding of voluntary youth work organisations

Intended results Increased investment in Budget 2023 in the youth work sector Additional supports for youth work organisations in dealing with the cost-of-living crisis Support for youth work organisations in dealing with the residual impact of Covid and increased needs of young people as a result of the war in Ukraine

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paul Gordon, Director of Policy and Advocacy

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Member organisations of the NYCI were asked to engage with local TDs in their communities to ask for their support in ensuring an increase in funding for the sector of €12m and briefings and materials were issued in support of this.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All TDs E-mails were sent across August/September by NYCI member organisations to their local TDs in support of this campaign.

Meeting All TDs Meetings were sought by our members and affiliates with their local Oireachtas members and emails sent asking for support for the campaign.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Event / Reception (1)

One photocall held on 20.09.22 to promote NYCI call for increased funding in sector - Deputies Patrick Costello, Mary Lou McDonald, Chris Andrews, Mark Ward and Holly Cairns attended along with Senators Mary Seery-Kearney, Eileen Flynn and Lynn Ruane.

Email (31-50)

E-mails issued to members of the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to attend a photocall, and sharing information regarding additional funding required for the youth sector in 2023. Invite and responses issued between 15.09 - 19.09.22 to Eileen Flynn, Lynn Ruane, Chris Andrews, Mark Ward, Holly Cairns, Mary Seery-Kearney, Patrick Costello, Michael Creed, Alan Dillon, Jennifer-Murnane O'Connor, John Paul Phelan, Tom Clonan, Ned O'Sullivan, Seán Sherlock, Kathleen Funchion and Jennifer Whitmore.

Email (6-10)

Thank you e-mails issued on 23.09.22 to Deputies Patrick Costello, Mary Lou McDonald, Chris Andrews, Mark Ward and Holly Cairns attended along with Senators Mary Seery-Kearney, Eileen Flynn and Lynn Ruane for their attendance at photocall.

Email (2-5)

Two e-mails issued to Senator Annie Hoey between 23.09-28.09 asking for support in raising issues regarding underfunding of youth sector in Budget 2023 and the impact of the cost of living on young people.

Informal communication (2-5)

Four texts sent to Senator Fintan Warfield on 28.09 asking for support in raising issues regarding underfunding of youth sector in Budget 2023 and the impact of the cost of living on young people.

Phone call (2-5)

Two phone calls with Senator Eileen Flynn between 19.09-26.09 asking for support in raising the need for funding the youth sector in Budget 2023 in the Seanad.

Email (2-5)

Two e-mails to Senator Erin McGreehan regarding NYCI's pre-budget asks and inviting her to a photocall on 20.09.22

Email (1)

One e-mail on 28.09.22 to Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile thanking him for raising issues around underfunding of youth services in the Seanad.

Phone call (1)

One phone call with Colm Ó Conaill, Asst. Sec. Gen in Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to discuss budget allocation for youth work sector in Budget 2023 - 27.09.22

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Ministers Paschal Donohue , Michael McGrath and Ossian Smyth on 1 September ahead of on Budget 2023 as part of Community/Voluntary sector delegation. NYCI raised funding challenges for youth work sector as a result of the cost of living crisis.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Colm O Conaill Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Erin McGreehan Senator (Seanad)

Niall Ó Donnghaile Senator (Seanad)

Eileen Flynn Senator (Seanad)

Annie Hoey Senator (Seanad)

Fintan Warfield Senator (Seanad)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Chris Andrews TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mark Ward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lynn Ruane Senator (Seanad)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Michael Creed TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul Phelan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kathleen Funchion TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tom Clonan Senator (Seanad)

Ned O'Sullivan Senator (Seanad)

Seán Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Whitmore TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Ossian Smyth Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)